Information Overload

I'm ferociously hunting down and voraciously devouring running advice from friends, forums, magazine articles, blog posts and tweets. Distance training, improving speed, perfecting diet, kit and mind games.

I know when I watch the London marathon at the weekend my desire to do it, just the once, will not have gone. I thought I had eradicated these foolish thoughts last Sunday doing the Taunton half marathon. Every step of that journey I spent vowing never to take part again. Those thoughts are already in the past as I evaluate each step and blame lack of concentration, the week before's ups and downs of un-wellness and a complete lack of understanding of the need to refuel en route even though I am overweight and desire my body to use its own fat stores rather than eat the proffered jelly babies.

Lets study the facts and get the excuses out of the way.

Meniere's disease does make my immune system less efficient, fact. However, if I make other changes to my lifestyle I should be able to become healthier thus reducing the number of times, always when my running is going well that I end up having to completely stop for long enough to feel like I have to start all over again when I put my trainers back on.

I shall be 50 this summer. I am a grandmother. Age is no barrier, plenty of people way older than me run further, longer and faster than I dare to dream about. I wish I had run around the cross country field at school and I wish I had worked out why my knees were so painful when I tried to run as a young mum, but I didn't. Being a healthy and energetic Nanna has got to be a good role model for my grandaughter. I might even get my daughter in law to put her trainers back on and join me.

Heart disease, obesity and the dreaded C word. I have always battled with my forever appetite. It never goes away! Actually, that's not strictly true. I do have MD bouts whereby phases of constant nausea makes eating a bit of a problem. But, obesity, heart disease and bowel cancer is a serious issue from my family genes and this is primarily why I run. Burning those calories is my number one reason for tying my laces. I was supposed to have had a cholesterol check before Christmas but the results went awol and I've not been back to try again, I know I should but there's a big part of me that doesn't really want to know. If I find out and I have to make alterations that's just something else I can't be bothered to think about. And I haven't even mentioned my laziness yet! I'm happy to keep pounding the roads and keep my fingers crossed that my ticker and insides are in good health.

I know the diet rules inside out. Eat less, move more, simple. Except it isn't. I can have an iron will and I can also have no will at all. Finding the balance seems to elude me over and over again. I love food. I love everything from a £5 Macdonald's feast to a mega bucks five star extravaganza and just about everything in between and I indulge regularly. I'm not good however at planning my meals, shopping for them and cooking. I avoid gluten as it saps my energy and less energy makes me even more tardy in my food choices and so the spiral falls. But all those bread and pastry dishes are my first choice on the menu, even menus of my own making. And, time and time again I convince myself that just this one biscuit/sandwich/ready meal wont harm even though I now darn well that it will and does. Shopping for gluten free products couldn't be easier than it is now and I must get back into having my shopping delivered, if my alternatives are in the cupboard and I ask Mr B to stop bringing home the goodies he finds at yet another lovely little farm shop found on a breakdown recovery in the depths of the Somerset, I might stand a chance.

My name is Lyn and I am a socialnetworkaholic. I have lots of hobbies, running - obviously! Photography, food, travel, word games, crochet, reading, writing and connecting with the virtual world. Sadly, some of these are not getting a look in as my Mac and ipad have such strong magnetic pulls on them that invariably this is where I find myself. Oh and I can justify some of this lost time. See I only ever joined Twitter because of a work need and now I have yet another time wasting app that just needs checking every now and then. And, writing, that's a good hobby surely? I only ever started blogging because of work and now I have yet another time wasting app that just needs checking now and then. I'm so good at passing the blame I should have a medal for it.

To have one guardian angel in your life is quite special, to have a second is nothing short of miraculous.   Nadine has very kindly offered to work out a running plan for me in order to help me move forward. I have read so much information with regards to all aspects of running that I am now in system overload and I can't see the wood for the trees. With Nadine's help and my aim to run with RFRC on as many Wednesday's as I possibly can hopefully that will make for a very good start to the new me.

Only I can control the food intake and I am going to start planning and return to having my shopping delivered to make sure I stay on track. Only I can control my social networking and I am going to cull the number of Twitterers and Facebookers I follow and set myself some rules. I am going to reinstate my other hobbies in my new found free time. Hopefully running will still be my number one choice and  maybe some of my future Runnerduck blogs will be about increased speed.

I Did It!

Sunday the 7th of April 2014

A grey but perfect running temperature kind of day.

Accompanied and spurred on by my running buddy Fi.

Cheered on by Mr B, friends and Running Forever Running Club.

I completed the Taunton Half Marathon.

I am over the moon.

Ambition achieved.

Running With The Deer

Last Wednesday night I didn't get to sleep until 1.30 am on account of Mr B's snoring. He was forgiven as Thursday he celebrated a BIG birthday. Another late night followed due to celebrations. A bottle or two of Champagne were consumed and a lovely evening was had with great friends. A very busy day at work on Friday had me sneaking off to the golden arches for a very naughty fast lunch.

I'm telling you all this because when I got in from work on Friday afternoon I put on my trainers and headed out the door. I had planned to do a clockwise circuit around Stoke Woods. But, I changed my mind. I was feeling good and suddenly decided I actually really needed to do my very long experimental run. I was already on the Taunton 10k route and instead of turning right towards the planned route I found myself turning left.

I thought to myself that I would see how it went and if by the time I got back to my village I had had enough it would be OK to head for home. I managed to thoroughly cheese off one particular driver. She had to slow down and even stop, how very rude of me to be wanting to use the road! My timing for this route was not so good, I was meeting a lot of commuter traffic but I am happy to say that all bar the one woman happily acknowledged my waves of thanks for giving me space.

I got thoroughly soaked from a very heavy downpour and began to worry that if the weather didn't improve I would run out of light before energy. Back on my home turf I approached the turning to my house, I could see my very faint shadow on the lane and a quick timing calculation had me choosing to do a second circuit. Off I went, round again. This time the traffic had considerably lessened and my legs still felt OK.  I did have the option of not adding in the Holway section of the route but that would not get my mileage up to what I needed to prove to myself what I was capable of. It had to be done and it was.

For my second trip along South Rd I slowed quite noticeably and as I turned into Stoke Rd I realised I had no memory whatsoever of having already run there some good few minutes before. As I headed out towards Stoke I put my head down, I was running against daylight. I was cross with myself. I should have left work sooner and gotten on with the job and now if the light went I would be putting myself and others in danger.

I ran almost 20km. I was delighted. And, I did that after 2 late nights, alcohol and junk food. Surely that can't be right?

 I slept like a log and woke on Saturday morning ravenously hungry and Mr B treated me to breakfast in town AND we went out for lunch too! I had a lovely day visiting relatives on Sunday and through all this I felt amazing. However when I got up yesterday morning I felt awful. I had a banging headache, sore throat, chills and aches and pains. I duly took painkillers and got through work. I should have been running after work but ended up having a really early night. Today I started the day feeling rough but it has warn off somewhat and I was able to complete a 6k outing around the woods I had originally planned to do last Friday.

The highlight of my run today was that once I had reached the top of the world, just over the other side of the woods on the hill I can see from home, I was enjoying the amazing views out over towards town when I was joined in the lane by the prettiest deer I have ever seen. Sadly she didn't approve of my company, she skitted off down the lane and disappeared over the hedge. I always feel immensely privileged to see these shy creatures, she made my day, all that effort so worthwhile for those few seconds.

This weekend I have an eightieth birthday party to celebrate hopefully with bubbles and good food and another top quality meal to look forward to on Saturday, I shall be driving for this one so no alcohol. I am hoping that the two late nights, a little drop of alcohol and some excellent food will stand me in good stead for a long run next Sunday. What do you think?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find another box of tissues. Achoo x

 

Scuppered, Again

It was all going so well.

I think my Meniere's has once again reared its ugly  head. I was clocking up the miles and feeling great. A little sore in the limbs and a familiar twang on my coccyx reminding me of its presence, but I was upping the distances and feeling confident. Group 6 is my ideal running group, the leader's pace perfect for mine and I was enjoying running with the group once more. This week as we crossed a wooden bridge I was towards the back of the pack, lots of feet in front of me could not run in sync and as I got about half way across I thought my world was going to fall down around me. My balance left me and I had to quickly grab the rail and hang on for dear life until the bridge became mine alone. Panic began to surface, I forced it back and took some deep breaths.

Being a strong believer of not allowing Meniere's disease to win I put my head down and ploughed on. Concentrating hard, one foot in front of the other, falling into step with the leader got me back on track.  Strangely, as mentioned in the past, sometimes I can't walk in a straight line but running is usually fine and I had no further problems and completed the run including a sprint (of sorts) finish.

Usually after running I am starving within a couple of hours but not this time. I didn't want to eat and couldn't eat. The dreaded nausea set in and lasted for about three days. Not being able to eat very much at all made my after work run on Thursday slow and hard, Gill kept me going and I was determined to make my body understand that it is able to run on an empty tank and when tired. During the night I kept waking, my temperature either soaring or chilled and every little bit of my entire being hurting. My ear is still very painful at times and my hearing has taken another knock.

I missed my Friday wind down from work run, I missed the Saturday Parkrun and I missed my planned Sunday long run. I decided there was no point trying to put my trainers on until I felt better. I really couldn't risk triggering a full blown attack. My MD has been in a very good phase, bothering my life very minimally and if I have anything to do with it that's exactly where it will stay.

I think the nausea has eased off, I think my aches are nearly gone. My plans keep having to change but I'm not giving up, not yet.

I have a goal, I WILL achieve it.
 

Starter for Ten

Last week I ran 41km over 6 days. This week I thought I would up the ante and planned a 10K to start me off. I chose my route and although I hadn't run this as a complete course before I have run all the bits of it and thought it should be around about 10K  To my absolute delight I actually ran almost 13K!

I had a lovely, if somewhat painful massage yesterday afternoon. My lovely Jo worked hard on my solidified shoulders and upon waking this morning I could hardly move. I questioned fellow runners if running today was a sensible option bearing in mind I was hoping to run further than I have in a long while. A resounding yes was their reply, so out again into the glorious sunshine I ventured.

I had given myself a slightly shorter route option if when I got to what I thought would be about half way I was flagging but I was very happy to discover that besides not walking a single step thus far I was more than able to tackle my longer choice.

Today's plan was to take things nice and easy, no fartlek ideas, just get round. I took care not to set off too quickly but enjoyed the stretches where I could stride out, just a little, and hoped this would make my overall pace acceptable. It did. I was also amazed to see when looking at my stats that my fastest section overall was well into the run when I was actually feeling quite tired. At that stage I felt I had fuel in the tank but my legs were aching somewhat.

My iPod sits nicely tucked inside my t shirt so I have no idea how far I have been nor how well I am doing until the end. Today I ran across my finishing line at the foot of our steep drive, hauled myself to the top where a conveniently placed brick wall always awaits my collapse and aids my stretching whilst I listen to my achievement. I have stopped listening to the false message that always declares "Congratulations, you have run another 500km," and wait for the more important facts, always distance first, then time, then pace then calories burned. The combined details had me grinning like a Cheshire cat and I confess to a fist pump and a whoop or two!

The best bit is the feeling that I could go further, is this possible? Both you and I will have to wait and see!

Bring Me Sunshine

Woke up, got up, went for a run.

No hat, no jacket, no hesitation.

Ran a bit, jogged a bit, walked a bit.

No worries, no cares, no pressure.

And all because the lady loves...

THE SUN

The Tale of the Tail

Today I had the honour of being the Longrun Meadow Park Run tail runner. I got up to a beautiful morning of sunshine and a frost requiring a deicing of the car. I arrived at Longrun Meadow in plenty of time and met the other morning's volunteers. A group photo was duly taken and I was very glad to hear that Dave the run director had been sweeping away one of the puddles. Worry not, there were plenty more lakes to wade through!

Plenty of runners gathered and made there way to the start. It was good to see a good number of new Longrun runners attending and I duly made my way to the back behind all the runners. In my normal way I had time to have a panic about what I might have to do if any runners got into trouble or if I dropped my phone in the mud and then wouldn't be able to call for help, thankfully the hooter soon sounded and away we went. No sooner had we started than I was alerted to a couple of latecomers who soon caught us, got into the pace and took off and disappeared into the pack. My next panic, what if the slower runners dropped out after the first lap, would I then end up needing to catch the pack, oh heck, I certainly hoped not.

Having the opportunity the make sure I was the last runner really took the pressure off. Now, the only results that matter really are your own results, there really is no pressure and although plenty of the runners have a desire to be up the front, beating your own time is what it's all about. But today I didn't even have to beat my own time. Therefore, I enjoyed my run a whole lot more than usual. No gasping for breath, no pushing myself, no charging through the puddles, the whole run was relaxed and I had time to select a course through the water and gloop.

I was very fortunate to be running with a lovely lady, whose name I sadly didn't ask. She hadn't done a 5K for a while and although we walked a little now and then, especially through the mud, (how on earth does anybody manage to run through that?) we kept going and she even put on a bit of a sprint at the end.

I'm never going to see the run from the front but I decided whilst running that being right at the back gives a completely different perspective to the run from what I am used to. I was able to see all the runners stretched out before me. Instead of concentrating on me I was able to look up, look ahead and see all the vibrant fluorescent colours, how do they get so far so quickly?  I am usually near the back of the runners but I haven't been lapped until today.  A young, tall and slender teenager tore past us and I'm sure he was the eventual winner. Oh how I wish I hadn't taken the short cut and hidden in the corner of the field during school days cross country!

The best moment by far was eventually catching up with a four year old. He was having a magnificent time too, splashing through all the mud and puddles and eagerly running on to find the next lot and all with a gorgeous smile. And yes he did run a whole lap.

If you haven't done a Parkrun yet I definitely recommend that you do. If you have but you have yet to volunteer please see if you can,  I recommend tail running, being at the back is a good place to be.